Converting string to number not working in Crystal 8.5

[nateatjourneys]

I have imported a set of data from Blackbaud software and it is imported as string rather than number. The only data in the field is 0,0.25,0.5,1.0, and 2.0. I created a function CDbl ({StsGrdsGrds_1.StsGrdsGrds_1_Awardedcredit})to convert the string to a number, but when I preview it then returns me to the formula editor and states that the string is non-numeric. I occasionally can get it to work by changing the size of the body of the report which makes no sense.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,

 

[synapsevampire]

So you qassume that we know what this FUNCTION is that you created?

And why create a function, just use a formula of:

if isnumeric({table.field}) then
val({table.field})
else
-9999999

Or use a test formula of:

if not(isnumeric({table.field})) then
"!!!!" & {table.field} & "!!!!"
else
totext({table.field})

-k